Electric signaling apparatus.



No. 67!,349. 4 Patented Apr. 2, l90l.

W. H. MGCLURE &'D. E. HEALY.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec.'8, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 67!,349. Patented Apr. 2, IBM. W. H. MOCLUBE &. D. E. HEALY.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 8, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Shea-ts-Sheet 2.

UJihqEEE E:

li/ Z WIZl/ AfQL/LWW NITED STATES Fries.

PATENT WILLIAM H. MCCLURE AND DENNIS E. HEALY, OF WORCESTER, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH 00.,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 371,349, dated April 2, 1901.

Application filed December 8| 1899. serial No. 739.6%. (No model-J T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. MOCLURE and DENNIS E. HEALY, of Worcester, county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Signaling Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In connection with fire-alarm and policesignal systems electromagnetically-operated visual indicators are frequently used, which are adapted to visually indicate a code-signal representing a-boX-number.- These instruments are very complicated, and consequently quite expensive, and they usually consist of several drums, each having upon its face a number of figures, and the several drums are operated to set up any one of a number of different signals, each drum showing one numeral of the box-number. In practice, however, a single instrument of this kind is rarely called upon to set up or indicate but a few numbers, in many instances no more than ten diiferent numbers, and attempts have been made to provide an electric visual indicator especially adapted to indicate a few different code-signals and to provide suitable means for operating said indicator, whereby the different code-signals may be set up.

This invention has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of an electric visual indicator which is especially adapted to indicate a few dilferent code-signals and to provide suitable means for operating said visual indicator, whereby the difierent codesignals may be set up.

In carrying out this invention a number of circuit-operating devices will be employed, which may be considered as the signal-boxes, and said circuit-operating devices are each adapted to operate the circuit of the visual indicator. The circuit-operating devices are or may be constructed in any suitable manner; but as contrasted to the ordinary circuit-operating devices employed for this purpose they are each adapted to change the normal condition of the circuit for a different period or length of time,and the visual indicator the period of time that the condition of the circuit is changed by any one of the circuitoperating devices which may be operated.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation an electric signaling apparatus embodying this invention, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the indicator.

arepresents a circuit-wheel, and a a contact-pen cooperating therewith, which consti tutes one of the circuitoperating devices which is adapted to operate the circuit 1) of the battery 5.

The circuit-wheel a, may be rotated in any usual or suitable manner, it being herein represented as rotated by means of a suitable motor mechanism A, which is constructed similar to the motor mechanism of an ordinary district oall-box. A number of such circuit-operating devices will be provided, and the circuit-wheel a of each circuit-operating device will be cut away or formed to change the normal condition of the circuit b for a different period or length of time.

As herein shown, two circuit-operating devices are provided, one of which will change the normal condition of the circuit 1) for a period of time approximately three times as long as the other; yet these two circuit-operating devices are shown merely for the sake of illustrating the invention, as it is obvious that a larger number of circuitoperating de- Vices will ordinarily be employed.

0 represents the operating electromagnet of theindicator, it beingincluded in and operated by the circuit 12, and 0 represents the armature of said electromagnet, which is attached to a lever 0 pivoted at c to asuitable bracket or support 0 The armature-lever c has pivotally connected at its lower excode indications are placed corresponding to the code-numbers which may be used in designating the circuit-operating devices, and there will be as many code indications on the drum as there are circuit-operating devices connected with the circuit 1). The toothed wheel 61 carries a pawl 01 which is held pressed by a spring into engagement with a ratchet-wheel 01 which is secured to one side of a toothed wheel d loosely mounted on said shaft d, and said toothed wheel d engages a toothed wheel d, which is secured to a shaft 01 bearing an escape-wheel (1 with which cooperates a suitable pallet (:1 A weight e is attached by a strap or otherwise to a pulley e, which is secured to the shaft 01, and

is provided for the purpose of rotating said.

shaft when permitted so to do-as, for instance, whenever the pawl c disengages the toothed wheel (1.

The circuit b is'herein represented as normally closed, and consequently the armature 0' will be attracted and the pawl held in engagement with the toothed wheel :11; but Whenever the said circuit b is opened and the armature retracted the toothed wheeled will be disengaged, and at such time the weight e will rotate the drum d The rotary movement or action of the drum is controlled by the escapement above described and when- 'ever released will continue .to rotate until stopped by the pawl 0 engaging the toothed wheel d, or until the weight runs down. By arranging the circuit-operating devices so that they each will operate the circuit b for a difierent length or period of time the drum 01 will be caused or permitted to rotate correspondingly different lengths or periods of time, and will consequently bring to a predetermined point the different numbers on the drum until the number corresponding to the particular circuit-operating device which has been operated has been brought to such position. To restore the drum d to its normal position, a strapfis attached to the pulley f on the shaft (1, which may be pulled by hand, and as the drum is thus turned backward the pawl d carried by the toothed wheel d, will slip over the teeth of the ratchetwheel 0?. I

It is obvious that the motor mechanism herein shown for operating the drum 01 may be constructed in many different ways without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, it being only necessary to provide means for starting it whenever the normal condition of the circuit is changed and for stopping it whenever the normal condition of the circuit is restored.

We claim- 1. In an electric signaling apparatus, the

combination of a number of circuit-operating devices, each adapted to change the normal condition of the circuit fora different period of time, a visual indicator operated by said circuit consisting of a drum having code indications thereon, corresponding to the different circuit-operating devices, a shaft to which said drum is secured, means for rotating said shaft, a ratchet-wheel also secured to said shaft, a pawl normally engaging it for holding said drum in its normal position, apivoted armature-lever bearing said pawl, an

electromagnet operated by the circuit for con-- trolling the operation of said armature-lever, for disengaging and thereafter engaging said ratchet-wheel, permitting said drum to rotate,

an escapement mechanism connected to said shaft by a ratchet-and-pawl connection for timing the movement of said drum, and means, as the pulley f and strapf, for simultaneously resetting said drum and for rewinding the actuator independent of said escapement mechanism, substantially as described.

holding said drum in its normal position, a

pivoted armature-lever bearin g said pawl, an electromagnet operated by the circuit for controlling the operation of said armature-lever for disengaging and thereafter engaging said ratchet-wheel, permitting said drum to rotate, a ratchet-wheel d loose on said shaft, a pawl engaging it carried by the aforesaid ratchet-wheel d, and gearing connecting said ratchet-wheel d with an escape-wheel, and

means, as the pulley f and strap f, for simultaneously resetting said drum and for rewinding the actuator, substantially as described.

3. In an electric signaling apparatus, the combination of a number of circuit-operatin g devices, each adapted to change the normal condition of the circuit for a difierent period of time, a visual indicator operated by said circuit consisting of a drum having code indications thereon, corresponding to the different circuit-operating devices, a shaft to which said drum is secured, a ratchet-wheel also secured to said shaft, a pawl normally engaging it for holding said drum in its normal position, a pivoted armature-lever bear ing said pawl, an electromagnet operated by the circuit for controlling the operation of said armature-lever, for disengaging and mechanism connected to said shaft by a ratchet-and-pawl connection for timing the movement of said drum, and two pulleys fixed names to this Specification in the presence of to said shaft, straps passing over said pulleys two subscribing witnesses. in opposite ways, a weight on one strap serv- W. H. MOCLURE.

D. E. HEALY.

ing as the actuator for said shaft, the other 5 strap serving as arestorer for said shaft and Witnesses:

weight, substantially as described. WEBSTER THAYER, In testimony whereof we have signed our FRANK B. HALL. 

